Clash of the Titans (1981) Blu-rayReview

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Before the remake hits theaters, check out the original in HD.

By Cindy White

Those of a certain (30-something) age will likely remember seeing the original Clash of the Titans in the theater, or perhaps catching an airing on TV at some point since its theatrical release in 1981. For many, including yours truly, it inspired an interest in Greek mythology that still carries on to this day. I remember being fascinated by the stately gods in their white marble digs on Mount Olympus, manipulating the lives of mortals by moving around little figures of them as if it was all just a game. When you're a kid, this really strikes a chord.

Also memorable were the fantastical and terrifying creatures created by stop-motion wizard Ray Harryhausen, who also served as a co-producer on the project. It would be Harryhausen's last film, in fact, and features some of the best work of his career, including a two-headed dog, giant scorpions, the monstrous Calibos, a slithering Medusa and the ancient Kraken. The effects may look quaint by today's standards (and the matte work looks especially artificial), but it's still interesting to see the extent of what could be done in the pre-CG era. Of all the creatures in the film, it's probably the clockwork owl Bubo that holds up the best, which is nice to see since it was one of my favorite elements from the film when I first saw it in the theater.

For those who might not be aware of the particulars, Clash of the Titans recounts the ultimate hero's journey of Perseus (played by a young, buff, Harry Hamlin). Born to the mortal woman Danae (Vida Taylor) of Argos and the god Zeus (Laurence Olivier), Perseus is forced into exile along with his mother by his grandfather Acrisius (Donald Houston), who has been told a prophecy that he would die should he ever have a grandson.

Meanwhile, on Mount Olympus, the gods are having their own power struggles. Zeus takes revenge on Calibos (Neil McCarthy), son of the sea goddess Thetis (Maggie Smith), after he hunts down and destroys Zeus' beloved herd of flying horses, leaving only one survivor, Pegasus. He turns Calibos into a hideous horned creature, angering Thetis, who is angered at the preferential treatment received by Zeus' son Perseus.

To get even, she spirits Perseus away to Joppa, a city where she is worshiped as the patron goddess. But this backfires on two counts. First, Perseus is befriended by the scholar Ammon (Burgess Meredith), who becomes his mentor, and second, he meets and falls in love with the princess Andromeda (Judi Bowker), originally intended as Calibos' bride. Perseus sets out to win her hand, first capturing Pegasus with the help of several magical gifts from the gods, then successfully answering a riddle. But this only further enrages the goddess Thetis, who announces to the citizens of Joppa that they must sacrifice Andromeda to the Kraken or it will destroy them all.

Perseus' only hope is to defeat the Kraken with the head of Medusa (another victim of a curse from the gods), which can turn anything to stone, even after being separated from her body. Thus begins the final stage of his perilous journey, in which he'll have to rely on his wits as well as his sword.

It may be cheesy, but this version is definitely worth revisiting before the fancy remake comes out, if only for nostalgic value alone. The effects might not hold up, but the performances by the likes of Smith, Olivier and other classically trained British actors, as well as Ursula Andress, elevate this to something more than a throwaway fantasy adventure from the early '80s.

Score: 7 out of 10

Video and Presentation

Despite the notice on the packaging that the film has been remastered utilizing state-of-the art digital technology, it sure doesn't look like much effort was put into that restoration. It's one thing to maintain the original visual appearance, complete with flaws and grain, but there's a fine line between altering the film too much and not altering it enough to make it look clean and presentable. The image sits under a thick layer of grain, to the point where it often becomes distracting. Focus is soft, especially in the Olympus scenes, giving the background a flat look.

As I mentioned already, the effects are not seamlessly blended into their backgrounds and often suffer from haloing and discoloration. This is likely the fault of the source material, but under the scrutiny of HD, it only makes the effects stand out more. The colors have faded somewhat as well, an inescapable fate for a nearly 30-year-old film. At least the print looks to be in relatively good condition for its age, with no visible scratches, hairs or lines marring the picture. This is probably where most of the restoration work went. A little more time and effort could have made this especially smooth and steady, but this presentation fails to impress.

Score: 6 out of 10

Languages and Audio

Originally recorded in stereo, this disc gets a boosted DTS-HD Master Audio track in 2.0, preserving the original theatrical sound, though this isn't the best showcase for the lossless format. There are some moments when the creatures screech and snarl in two channels, but for the most part, the sound just sits in the center and doesn't do a whole lot except come straight at you. Dialogue is consistently audible, if a little pinched and thin-sounding. As for the musical score, it tends toward a harsh and brassy tone, never truly filling up the soundspace like you'd hope. A touch more bass would have been welcome too. Once again, it's important to remember that we are dealing with a track that is nearly three decades-old, so all things considered, it's held up well.

Score: 6 out of 10

Extras and Packaging

This special edition comes in Warner Bros. handsome hardcover digi-book packaging, complete with 40 pages of glossy photos, actor bios, character profiles and production notes. The disc comes tucked into a plastic tray in the back. Just in case there was any question about the timing of this Blu-ray release, there's also a separate booklet with pictures from the new film and a ticket voucher for a $7.50 ticket to see it in the theater.

Adding to the connection between this film and the new one, there's a sneak peek of the remake that plays as soon as you pop in the disc. It has interviews with the cast, footage from the set and clips of the film, all designed to get fans into theaters on April 2. Curiously, though, this feature is only available upon start-up, you can't access it via the "Features" menu on the disc.

That menu is surprisingly sparse for a special edition like this. There's no input from the actors, screenwriter or directors, even in archival footage. Harryhausen gets the exclusive spotlight here with a 12-minute interview piece titled "A Conversation with Ray Harryhausen" and several additional segments broken off from that same conversation that focus on each of the creatures in the film as part of the "Myths and Monsters Gallery." The subjects include Calibos, Pegasus, Bubo, The Scorpions, Medusa, The Kraken and Dioskilos.

For those who are interested in Harryhausen's work and the process of stop-motion animation, this is the ultimate look behind the scenes. Those who want to know more than that can reference the booklet, but in terms of documentary material, you're out of luck here.

Score: 7 out of 10

The Bottom Line

Obviously intending to capitalize on the debut of the remake in theaters, this Blu-ray is a good warm-up with a lot going for it. Warner Bros. continues to impress with the way it packages its re-releases of popular catalog titles. It's just a shame the extra content on the disc doesn't live up to the promise of the outside.